Sun, 22 November 2009
A guide to doing gaffe-free business here.
Includes geography, people, government, economy and transnational issues.
Find an affordable roof over her head.
Heroic Gauls celebrate their half century.
Kimberley uncovers the sacred rituals of Frite Almighty.
Tips for managing a successful relocation back home.
| Index | Last | Var.(%) |
|---|---|---|
| BEL 20 | 2119.3 | 0.50 |
| DAX | 5252.45 | 1.50 |
| IBEX 30 | 10726.8 | 0.59 |
| CAC 40 | 3377.59 | 1.40 |
| FTSE 100 | 4564.5 | 0.79 |
| AEX | 276.85 | 0.95 |
| DJIA | 9096.72 | -0.13 |
| Nasdaq | 1975.51 | 0.39 |
| FTSE MIB | 20341.67 | 1.65 |
| TSX Composite | 10570.54 | -1.74 |
| ASX | 4148.9 | -0.60 |
| Hang seng | 20135.5 | -2.37 |
| Straits Times | 0.00 | |
| ISEQ 20 | 442.48 | 0.27 |
Unlike Belgian nationals, expats in Belgium cannot apply online for an access code to the government's electronic tax programme. We investigate why.The authorities in Belgium this saiweek angrily denied that foreigners living in the country were being discriminated against when it comes to lodging their tax returns.
The Tax-on-Web system has been in operation for four years
The denial comes after it emerged that foreign residents will not automatically have the same rights as Belgian nationals to file their 2005 tax forms online.
Belgian taxpayers can lodge their tax returns online via the government's website, www.taxonweb.be.
Applicants receive a user name, password and a personal access code within 10 days of registering at the website.
However, all foreign residents, both EU and non-EU, will have to report in person to the federal government's information and communications technology department, Fedict, to obtain an access code.
Finance Ministry spokeswoman Birgit Peters says this is because foreigners have a national number and a social security card number, but no identity card number, making it impossible to complete the current forms online.
"We are not trying to make life difficult for anyone, but simply want to be safe. After all, we are dealing with personal financial details here," she says.
"The online service is a relatively new project. It is evolving all the time and we may look at ways of making things a bit easier in the future."
Changes in the wind
Ministry spokeswoman Peters indicated that the system might be changed next year so that foreign residents might be able to apply online for a code, the same as a Belgian national. But she was unable to say when any such chance might be implemented.
Peters pointed out that the tax arrangements will not apply to a large section of the expat community in Brussels: the estimated 25,000 civil servants working for the EU institutions, such as the European Parliament and Commission, most of whom do not pay tax to the Belgian state.
This handy guide from Expertise in Labour Mobility includes how to write a CV, application procedure, interview dos and don'ts, Belgian management culture.
Belgium’s first alternative directory assistance services - available through the shortcode 14-14 - can now be accessed on the internet.
Moving to Belgium presents a host of challenges to expats, not least of all finding the right home.
The psychological effects of global mobility can be physically painful.
Twitter
LinkedIn
Facebook
Flickr
General rating: Not rated yet
Rate article:
Add my rating